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Predicting employment deterioration with the Processing Speed Test (PST) and SDMT in multiple sclerosis
Michael G Jaworski1, John K Gillies1, Margaret Youngs1
1Jacobs Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|July 28, 2023
Summary
Cognitive tests, including the Processing Speed Test (PST) and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R), can predict employment deterioration in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). These assessments may help identify individuals at high risk of job loss.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Occupational Health
- Psychology
Background:
- Employment deterioration is a significant challenge for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).
- Current clinical practices often identify job loss after it occurs, limiting opportunities for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine which neuropsychological tests can differentiate between healthy volunteers (HVs) and employed/disabled PwMS at baseline.
- To identify baseline neuropsychological measures that predict work status deterioration over a two-year period.
Main Methods:
- 198 PwMS underwent baseline cognitive assessments, including the Processing Speed Test (PST) and Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (SDMT).
- Employment status was monitored using the Buffalo Vocational Monitoring Survey.
- Univariate and regression analyses were employed to identify predictors of work stability versus deterioration.
Main Results:
- PwMS demonstrated significant cognitive impairments compared to HVs across all baseline measures.
- Employed PwMS performed similarly to HVs and better than work-disabled PwMS.
- The Processing Speed Test (PST) and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) scores were significant predictors of future employment deterioration.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive function, specifically as measured by the PST and BVMT-R, is a key predictor of job loss in PwMS.
- These cognitive assessments can serve as valuable screening tools to identify PwMS at elevated risk for unemployment.
